True Beauty
is the Disney-owned ABC network’s newest reality competition. The program claims
to seek individuals possessing true outer and inner beauty; but it consistently
manages to find some of the most morally bankrupt individuals for the
competition. In each episode the competitors have one “outer beauty” challenge,
and one secret “inner beauty” challenge during which their morals are put to the
test.

On the January 19th
episode (10:00 p.m. ET), after a long, hard day of being beautiful, the
competitors decide to unwind with a toga party. Inevitably, a game of “Truth or
Dare” ensues. Contestant Laura is dared to give a lap dance to Billy. As she
dances for him, her top rides up exposing her breasts (blurred for the viewing
audience). Immediately following this scene, another contestant dares Ray to
streak around the pool. Of course he obliges. An icon for the show is placed
over his genitals as he struts naked around the pool. As one of the female
competitors says, “Ray’s flopping business is definitely burned into my brain
for eternity.”

This tawdry program was
rated TV-14 L. However, an episode featuring obscured nudity and a lap dance
warrants an ‘S’ descriptor. A proper rating for this show would have been TV-14
LS.

To an unsuspecting parent,
the premise of this show may not sound innately unsuitable for their children:
the search for an individual who displays true inner beauty, someone who has
solid values and upholds their morals even when they don’t know they’re being
watched. But the actual content on the screen tells a very different story: it
encourages the competitors to expose their character flaws -- and bodies -- and
then glamorizes them for doing so.

If this program were
properly rated, a parent’s V-Chip would be able to block the program
automatically. However, networks consistently under-rate their material. When a
program goes on the air with an inadequate rating, it is children who suffer.
The true tragedy of True Beauty is that it is exposing kids to adult
content at too young an age.

If you agree that this program was inadequately
rated, please write to the TV ratings advisory board at
tvomb@usa.net and let them know that the TV
ratings once again failed to adequately warn parents about inappropriate
content.

Parents Television Council,
www.parentstv.org, PTC,
Clean Up TV Now, Because our children are watching, The
nation's most influential advocacy organization, Protecting
children against sex, violence and profanity in
entertainment, Parents Television Council Seal of Approval,
and Family Guide to Prime Time Television
are trademarks of the Parents Television Council.